FOOD : Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club
Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club, located in Kirknewton, offers a luxurious retreat surrounded by picturesque landscapes. This historic estate features elegant rooms and suites, perfect for a relaxing staycation or a weekend getaway. Guests can dine at the hotel's restaurants, play a round of golf on the championship course, or unwind at the spa and leisure facilities. Dalmahoy seamlessly blends traditional charm with modern amenities, providing a tranquil escape just a short drive from the bustling city centre of Edinburgh.
They also welcome non-guests for dinner and use of the facilities. We went along to dine in their signature restaurant, The Pentland.
REVIEW OF THE PENTLAND RESTAURANT AT THE DALMAHOY HOTEL AND COUNTRY CLUB
The resort is set within 1,000 acres of parkland, just 7 miles from the centre of Edinburgh. The resort boasts two 18-hole golf courses, a PGA-approved golf academy, gym, indoor swimming pool, spa and tennis courts. It has two restaurants, two bars, one lounge and a private dining room with plenty on free on site parking.
Beyond the lobby of the hotel, the sense of timelessness and tradition that is both captivating and comforting, becomes evident and the warm Scottish ambiance becomes more and more evident as you walk further into the restaurant. The unique blend of rich textures, tartans and wood certainly evokes a strong sense of Scottishness.
Shetland Mussels Mariniere with garlic cream and crusty bread (£10.00).
A pot of steaming hot mussels, served in a fragrant cream broth teeming with garlic, white wine, and herbs, was a true delight. The plump morsels of shellfish combined with the garlic cream, create a flavour that is both delicate and robust. Mussels were of varying sizes which meant that some were a little more cooked than others but overall they were tender and juicy, just perfect for dipping and scooping up the cream. You can enjoy these as a starter or a main course.
Tempura Squid, prawn and courgette with lime and garlic mayonnaise (£12.00)
A tasty dish but definitely not what I would consider as tempura battered. Tempura batter is light and crispy due to the addition of carbonated water or other effervescent ingredients resulting in a delicate, lacy texture when fried, creating a distinctively crispy coating that allows the food to cook quickly while remaining airy and light. The squid, prawn and courgette where definitely battered!
Slow Cooked Beef with truffle potato and a red wine jus (£25.00)
I couldn’t resist this classic dish. A tender, flavourful meat dish that falls apart with each forkful! The beef had been slow cooked and fell apart with ease but it was quite dry, luckily there was truffle mash potato and plenty of jus to compensate for this. I thoroughly enjoyed this dish.
Seabass with potato, saffron mayonnaise and bouillabaisse sauce (£26.00)
A dish of halves. The seabass was overcooked as it had started to curl but still retained its lovely delicate structure. The bouillabaisse was superb having been cooked and strained correctly retaining all those gorgeous aromatic flavours in the broth giving the entire dish a rich and complex flavour profile.
Battered Onion Rings (£4.00)
The same batter was used here as was for the squid. Perfect for onion rings, not for Tempura Squid!
White Chocolate Cheesecake with macerated rhubarb (£10.00)
The cheesecake held so much promise but was incredibly solid in structure and texture. The rich melt-in-your-mouth texture was missing. Quite disappointed with this dish.
Selection of Scottish cheeses with oatcakes, pineapple chutney and quince jelly (£16.00)
The cheeses could have been better, with signs of them being pre cut well in advance prior to serving very evident. Oatcakes were lovely but the chutney was acidic and unpleasant.
I was impressed with my Ginger Mojito mocktail. Love that you can provide a flavour profile and they can concoct a drink according to your choice.
The staff were faultless with their warm hospitality and service. They were warm and friendly with all guests in the dining room.
The Dalmahoy prides itself on using Scotland’s larder to create their menus which is evident with the selection of seafood and meat. They also have their own garden, with most of the produce finding its way onto your plate.
I like The Pentland Restaurant, I like the Dalmahoy. It has the potential to be fabulous with a few tweaks and a little more attention to detail. However, the average diner during our visit here, were certainly elderly and we heard nothing but praise for the meals and plenty an empty plate returned to the kitchen!
And so, I leave this one to you, to make your own mind up.
THINGS TO NOTE AT THE PENTLAND RESTAURANT, DALMAHOY
The can cater for gluten free and vegetarians but they are not a ‘free from’ environment
They are not dog friendly
Plenty of free on site parking
Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club, Kirknewton, Edinburgh, EH27 8EB www.dalmahoyhotelandcountryclub.co.uk
My Spoon Award : Bronze Spoon 7/10
I was invited by Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club to review their menu.
Food and drink were complimentary but the views are very much my own.
TartanSpoon is an Award-winning blog that brings you reviews and recommendations on the very best places to eat, drink and stay in Edinburgh, Scotland and beyond.
Adele is a writer, reviewer, judge and panelist living in Edinburgh. She sits on the Committee for the Guild of Food Writers (Scottish Events), is a Great Taste Judge for the Guild of Fine Food, Scottish Bakers and a Judge for the Gin Co-operative awards.
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